Do you love to clean? No, nobody loves to clean, but cleaning is a necessary part of life. Cleaning helps get rid of germs, keeping you and anyone else who lives in your house safe. That said, many people clean with chemical cleaning products that contain toxic ingredients, many of which can damage endocrine function. 

Instead of polluting the home with chemicals while you clean, use a homemade, vinegar-based cleaner that is 100% safe. Vinegar is frequently recommended as a household cleaner and can be very effective on certain surfaces. We are, of course, referring to distilled white vinegar, not apple cider vinegar or wine vinegar. It is important to note that vinegar is a cleaner and not a disinfectant like bleach or commercial cleaners. Because of that, it is not as effective at killing certain germs when compared to disinfectant sprays. 

Why Should You Clean With Vinegar?

Vinegar is about 5% acetic acid, which works to break down the structure of some oils, dirt, films, bacteria, and stains. That same acetic acid can also harm certain surfaces, which is why vinegar cleaners aren’t meant to clean every inch of your home. Do not use vinegar on natural stone, cast iron, aluminum, or waxed wood. The “set time,” or the time a cleaner has to set on a surface in order to work, varies with a vinegar cleaner. Experts suggest that the set time for vinegar can be up to 30 minutes, especially if you use it to clean stained pots and pans. 

How Does Vinegar Work?

The acidity, as mentioned previously, makes vinegar a great cleaning agent. It can help dissolve soap scum, brines left behind by hard water, and even the glue from stickers. If you want to clean your windows or mirrors, mix vinegar with water and wipe with newspaper (not a paper towel) to avoid streaks. You can also use vinegar to get rid of stubborn stains, for example, from sweaty armpits or grass. Most of these types of stains are slightly acidic, meaning they will dissolve away in the presence of another acid, like vinegar. A paste made with vinegar and baking soda can help dissolve red wine stains. You can even use vinegar to get dog or cat urine out of carpets or clothes!

When To Not Use Vinegar

Because vinegar is highly concentrated, it can stain delicate fabrics and harm other surfaces. It will scratch natural stone like marble or granite. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vinegar is not approved to disinfect surfaces. Unfortunately, there is no supporting evidence that shows that vinegar can get rid of harmful pathogens, like salmonella, that lurk on surfaces. Additionally, using vinegar on hardwood floors can eat away at the finish and make it look dull over time. 

Orange Basil Vinegar Cleaner

Not only does this recipe help clean certain surfaces, but it also leaves your home smelling floral and zesty. Instead of tossing orange peels into the trash, use the peels to provide that citrus scent to your vinegar cleaner. The peels from four oranges and four to five sprigs of basil will do the job!

Ingredients:

• 1 (16-ounce) wide-mouthed mason jar
• Peels from 4 oranges
• 4-5 sprigs of basil
• Distilled white vinegar

Instructions:

• Add the orange peels and sprigs of basil to the wide-mouthed mason jar and fill it to the top with vinegar. Tighten the lid and let it set for a minimum of 10 days. 
• After this infusion time, prepare a spray bottle and fill it halfway with the vinegar mixture (only the liquid, not the peels or sprigs). Add water to the spray bottle to fill it up. Shake well and use when ready. 
• Once you finish this solution, you can use the rest of the vinegar to create more. You shouldn’t keep your vinegar solution longer than one month, as you don’t want it to spoil.

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Have you ever opened up the fridge, only to be greeted with an unpleasant, pungent odor? For the most part, this doesn’t happen, but some fridges definitely have those odors. Sometimes, the smell may be from last night’s takeout, garlic or onions, or something that went bad. Whatever the smell is, you don’t want it in your fridge anymore. The DIY deodorizer in this article can help quickly combat those odors. 

You don’t have to attack your fridge with all sorts of chemicals and air freshener sprays. There’s no need to pollute all your food! All you have to do is combine three all-natural ingredients and then boom, your odors will go away. Instead of that foul smell, you’ll smell a light, refreshing clean scent. You want to know the best part? You just place the combination of ingredients on a shelf in your fridge, close the fridge, and walk away. 

Baking Soda

Why does baking soda work to combat odors in your fridge? It’s a weak base that can act as an acid, depending on what it comes in contact with. The odors in your fridge are composed of food particles that float around and settle into other meals. By putting a box of baking soda in your refrigerator, you give those food particles something else to bond with. Because of sodium bicarbonate’s unique characteristics, it can attract both acidic and basic particles. When these particles bond with baking soda, the odor is neutralized. One thing to remember in regards to baking soda is that you should not cook with the same baking soda that you use to combat odors in the fridge. The reason for this is because the baking soda absorbs those food particles as part of the neutralization process, which can change baking soda’s taste. 

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth is an all-natural substance made up of silica from the shells of diatoms, which are microscopic pieces of fossilized algae. Mined from the sediment deposits in bodies of water, diatomaceous earth is an available resource that has been around for centuries. Some people use it as a natural pesticide, while others use it to deodorize shoes. When it comes to your fridge and unpleasant odors, diatomaceous earth may lend a helping hand. It works to soak up the unpleasant smells because it has absorbent qualities, just like baking soda. If you use diatomaceous earth to soak up foul smells, you need to change it every one to two weeks. 

DIY Deodorizer For Your Refrigerator

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1/2 cup food-grade diatomaceous earth
• 15 drops lemon essential oil

Instructions:

• Add the baking soda to a wide-mouthed glass jar. Make sure that you don’t use plastic because that won’t work well. 
• Pour the diatomaceous earth into the same jar. It has to be food-grade, not pool-grade, diatomaceous earth. Stir to combine.
• When baking soda mixes with diatomaceous earth, they work together to combat the foulest odors!
• Finally, add the lemon essential oil to the jar and mix to combine. 
• Place the jar on a central shelf in your fridge. You don’t want someone to grab it and eat it by accident. Just make sure the jar has lots of air flow! Replace every couple weeks.

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When you say that you have an all-natural cleaner, you are typically referring to some concoction that contains vinegar. Although vinegar is an effective cleaning agent for various surfaces in the home, it can make your house smell a certain way, especially if you don’t scent it. If you don’t want your house to smell like pickle brine, the all-purpose cleaner in this recipe is for you. 

The major cleaning agent in this homemade cleaner is 70% isopropyl alcohol. That means that 70% is isopropyl alcohol and the other 40% is purified water by volume. 70% isopropyl alcohol kills organisms by denaturing and dissolving their lipids. Studies suggest that this type of alcohol is effective against most bacteria, many viruses, and fungi, but it is not effective against bacterial spores.

There is a good reason you see rubbing alcohol in most first aid kits. It exhibits antiseptic qualities, making it a great natural bactericidal treatment. One evidence review found that the time to 50% relief of postoperative nausea symptoms was faster when smelling rubbing alcohol than traditional anti-nausea medications. Alcohol is also an excellent surface disinfectant, so you can use it for thermometers, scissors, and other surfaces. Read on to learn more about this homemade alcohol cleaner. 

70% Isopropyl Alcohol

The higher the concentration of alcohol, the less effective it is at killing germs. You may think that 99% isopropyl alcohol is better at cleaning or sanitizing, but this is not the case. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that using 99% isopropyl alcohol to clean will cause immediate coagulation on the surface or cell wall proteins. That prevents the passage of alcohol into the cell itself, meaning that the alcohol cannot penetrate the virus or bacteria and kill it. The higher concentration almost creates a shield that protects bacteria, which is why the lower concentration is better for cleaning. 

Liquid Castile Soap

From floors to ceilings to your body and beyond, Castile soap is an excellent cleaner for almost anything and everything. Traditionally made from 100% pure olive oil, water, and lye, Castile soap is believed to have originated in the Castile region of Spain. It is an eco-friendly soap that contains powerful disinfecting essential oils, including tea tree and eucalyptus. You can use it on countertops, tile, tubs, toilets, and more! It’s important to note that you do not use Castile soap on waxed wood floors because it will break down the wax. If you have product build-up on your floors, consider using a vinegar and hot water solution first. 

All-Purpose Cleaner Without Using Vinegar

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup 70% isopropyl alcohol
• 3 drops liquid Castile soap
• Water
• 16-ounce glass spray bottle

Instructions:

• Pour rubbing alcohol into the glass spray bottle and then add the liquid Castile soap.
• An optional step is to add a few drops of your favorite essential oils. 
• Fill the rest of the bottle with water and screw on the top. Give your bottle a quick shake to combine the ingredients. 
• Spray mixture on your surfaces, wipe, and clean.

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Next time you walk down the cleaning product aisle at a hardware or grocery store, carefully inspect the ingredient lists on the various products. Whether you look at a disinfectant, floor cleaner, or bathroom spray, you’ll find that many of the labels contain chemicals that are quite harmful to the human body.

Cleaning product companies tell you that their products are necessary for keeping the home free of bacteria and germs. Sprays, wipes, powders, liquids, and more promise to improve your home and health by removing grime and dirt. Many of these products, including Pine-Sol, exhibit fresh or clean scents that smell similar to lemon or pine. What these companies don’t tell you is that their products can contain toxic chemicals. Well, they may explain this, but in the fine print on the label, which people seldom read thoroughly.

How Do Cleaning Products Affect Your Health?

Popular cleaning product manufacturers include chemicals in their products that may negatively impact your health. For example, it’s possible for these products to cause endocrine disruption, pregnancy complications, allergies, birth defects, and cancer. Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE) published a report that commissioned an independent laboratory to test 20 popular cleaning products. The results indicated that the toxic chemicals they detected were not disclosed on product labels.

The reality is that manufactures do not always have to disclose the ingredients in their fragrance blends in cleaning products. These signature scents are often copyrighted, meaning that disclosing them would allow other people or companies to produce the same sense. The same applies for perfumes and other products where “fragrance blend” is on the label. Many known allergens are often included in these fragrance blends, but also in products marketed as “fragrance-free.” This is to say that harmful chemicals may hide in your cleaning products.

Does DIY Pine Oil Cleaner Work?

Many people love Pine-Sol for its ability to clean the home. Unfortunately, it contains known endocrine disruptors and other toxic chemicals that increase the risk of birth defects and cancer. Switching to the natural alternative in this article is not only more beneficial for your health, but also for the surfaces you clean. The pine cleaner in this article is effective on tile floors and wood furniture. The biggest plus to this cleaner, besides the effectiveness, is that you can clean your home without plaguing it with cancer-causing chemicals. Continue reading to learn how to make the pine cleaner.

DIY Pine Cleaner Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 gallon distilled water
• 1/4 cup unscented Castile soap
• 15-20 drops pine essential oil
• 5-10 drops lemon essential oil

Instructions:

• In a large glass container, mix the water with the Castile soap. The water may turn cloudy, but this is completely normal.
• Add the essential oils into the container, screw on the lid, and swish it around to thoroughly combine the ingredients. It is ready to use.

How To Use:

• Apply the solution with a sponge or cleaning rag to the area you want to clean.
• Rinse the area and dry with a cloth or towel. The solution stores best in a glass container.

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Embarking on a cleansing experience means eliminating a plethora of unhealthy foods from your diet. As many people who use the Full Body Cleanse know, the goal is to focus on fresh foods that aid the cleansing process and provide the body with various phytochemicals, antioxidants, and other vitamins & minerals. Diet, while it plays a crucial role in weight loss and achieving a healthier body, is merely one aspect of cleansing.

Cleansing Beyond The Diet

The chemicals in cleaning and beauty products can enter the body via skin absorption or inhalation. Because the average person is accustomed to using these products, he or she may not interpret the side effects of those harmful chemicals in the body as wrong or “out of the norm.” After you cleanse the body, you may notice skin irritation, coughing, or sinus irritations when using commercial cleaning or beauty products. This is why you may want to consider using all-natural alternatives.

Common household cleaners make your living space look clean, but they simultaneously fill the area with chemicals that have caused asthma in children and skin irritations in adults. Indoor air pollution, which ranks high on the list of environmental dangers, is primarily caused by cleaning products. After cleaning with such products post cleanse, you may notice eye irritation, sore throat, runny nose, or headaches. A lot of this has to do with how the government regulates cleaning products.

Cleaning with natural cleaning products may be unfamiliar or different, but so is the thought of completing a Full Body Cleanse. We aren’t saying that you need to trash all of your cleaning and beauty products, but we are suggesting that keeping the body clean and healthy requires a multifaceted approach. Your skin rash or chronic cough may be attributed to your favorite lotion or countertop cleaner. In an effort to expose you to more natural options, here are some of our favorite skin care and cleaning products to incorporate into your new, healthier lifestyle. 

DIY Whipped Body Butter

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup each: Shea butter, cocoa butter, virgin coconut oil, and sweet almond oil
• 10 drops lavender essential oil
• 10 drops tea tree essential oil

Instructions:

• In a double boiler or sauce pain over medium-low heat, combine all of the ingredients, except the essential oils. Stir this mixture until it becomes liquid.
• Remove from the heat and allow the mixture to cool and set. Make sure it is set before completing the next step.
• Add the essential oils and whip with a stand or hand mixer, whipping until you get fluffy peaks. The mixture will not whip if you don’t let it set.
• Spoon this into a glass jar and store in a cool dry place, or in the fridge. Use on dry or cracked skin.

Chemical Free Moisturizer

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
• ¼ cup castor oil
• small soft washcloth
• small container for storing oil mixture

Instructions:

• It is recommended that you only apply this mixture once a day before bed to allow the oils to nurture your skin overnight.
• Mix the oils together in a glass jar.
• Pour about one teaspoon of the oil mixture in your hands, rub them together, and apply the mixture all over your face.
• Take the washcloth and run it under hot water. Place this over your face and leave it on until it becomes cool.
• Using the washcloth, wipe your face and then rinse the washcloth off.
• If you feel that your skin is dry, apply a couple drops of olive oil on your skin.
• Store the mixture in a cool, dry place.

Exfoliating Sugar Scrub

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon dried green tea leaves (can be taken from 2-4 tea bags)
• 1 cup organic brown sugar
• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons raw honey
• 10 drops lavender essential oil

Instructions:

• Mix all of the ingredients in a medium bowl. Scoop this mixture into an airtight container and then store it in a cool dry place.
• When you want to use this exfoliator, apply about 1 tablespoon to your hands and massage it onto the face/body for 30 seconds. Rinse this from your skin with warm water and pat dry.

Appliance Cleaner

Ingredients:

• 1 part distilled white vinegar
• 1 part water

Instructions:

• In a spray bottle, mix one part distilled white vinegar and 1 part water. Spray on your appliances and wipe away with a microfiber cloth.

Citrusy Dish Soap

Ingredients:

• 4 teaspoons baking soda
• 5 cups boiling water
• 5 tablespoons liquid castile soap
• 10 drops lemon essential oil
• 10 drops grapefruit essential oil
• 10 drops tea tree essential oil

Instructions:

• Dissolve the baking soda in the boiling water. Add the liquid castile soap and stir until everything is dissolved. Let this cool.
• When the mixture is cooled, stir in the essential oils and pour it into a bottle. It is important to shake well before you use it.

DIY Disinfectant Spray

Ingredients:

• Enough lemon peels to fill up a quart-size mason jar
• Enough distilled white vinegar to fill that mason jar
• A spray bottle

Instructions:

• Fill a quart-size mason jar with lemon peels.
• Fill the jar almost to the brim with distilled white vinegar. Seal the jar and allow it to sit for about one day in a cool dry place.
• Strain the vinegar through fine mesh strainer into another jar or bowl.
• Pour the strained vinegar into a spray bottle, screw the top on, and spray away and start cleaning!

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What are some of the best scents of the holiday season? Some people side with pumpkin spice while others have an affinity for cinnamon. Both of these spices, however, can be quite pungent and overwhelming when incorporated into homemade cleaning products. Plus, you may not want your home to smell like a coffee shop or packet of cinnamon gum. 

Lucky for you, pine happens to be a wonderful holiday scent. If you have a Christmas tree in your home, you can get a little extra out of it by using some of the branches to make a natural cleaning spray. It’s the perfect scent to make your home smell like the wilderness, and the best part is that you don’t have to venture into the cold mountains to smell that crisp aroma. A simple pine-infused vinegar spray will accomplish that!

Scenting Vinegar

There are people who won’t ever clean with vinegar, not even if you pay them. The odor can be intense, but that’s where scenting vinegar comes into play. It’s very easy to make scented vinegar that is natural, effective, and less offensive to your respiratory system. All you have to do is add the pine needles and branches to a jar of vinegar. Screw on the lid and allow the infusion to take place. You can steep the mixture in a cool, dark place anywhere from six weeks to six months. 

Some pine-scented cleaners used to be healthier, but now they are typically free of any natural pine substance. Pine oil used to be in PineSol, but it was eliminated from the ingredients in 2014. The manufacturer replaced it with artificial fragrance and it has a petrochemical base. For people who want to be on the safer, more natural side, cleaning with non-toxic products like the DIY recipe in this article is more beneficial. 

Cleaning With Vinegar

Although it’s not a disinfectant, distilled white vinegar is an excellent cleaner that’s made from acetic acid. It’s been known to dissolve mineral deposit, grease, dirt, and general grime. If you have a chrome shower head or faucet, you can soak it in white vinegar to get rid of water spots. Vinegar also helps to kill some bacteria, but you do have to be cautious about where you use vinegar, as it can damage certain surfaces. Make sure that you do not use vinegar to clean wood, granite, metal, or marble surfaces. 

When you clean with vinegar, you don’t need to use a lot. Since it’s such an affordable product, you’ll have one jug of vinegar for months, years even! And like we said, snap a couple branches off your Christmas tree for the pine infusion. If you don’t have a Christmas tree, there are many fallen pine branches lining the streets during the winter. Don’t be afraid to grab a handful!

Pine-Scented Vinegar Cleaner

Ingredients:

• Pine branches, or pine needles
• Distilled white vinegar
• Mason jar

Instructions:

• Place a generous handful of pine branches or needles into a clean glass Mason jar. If you have a jar that holds 750 milliliters, that would be best, but a smaller jar is perfectly acceptable. 
• Fill the jar with white vinegar. Screw the top on the jar and place the jar in a cool, dark place for six weeks to six months. The longer you allow it to infuse, the stronger the pine scent will be. 
• After completing the infusion process, strains the liquid into your spray bottle of choice and start cleaning.

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People are under the impression that they need to purchase chemical products to clean or unclog drains. The harsh chemicals in these products are so caustic that they can burn the skin. They leave a chemical coating on the sink when they are attempting to unclog the drain. Contrarily, a non-toxic drain cleaner may be an effective, safe way to unclog a drain. If neither the chemical cleaner or the non-toxic cleaner are going to work, though, it’s best to use the non-toxic option, right? Right.

You may be interested to learn that Feng Shui masters say that clogged drains deplete your health, travel, finances, and aspirations. They may even lead to clogged sinuses! Whether or not that’s true remains to be seen, but a clogged drain is annoying and costly, especially if you have to involve a plumber. You don’t always need the chemical strength of a drain cleaner. You can often use a simple solution of a few natural ingredients, specifically vinegar and baking soda. 

How Do Baking Soda And Vinegar Unclog Drains?

Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a natural base, while vinegar is an acid. Combining an acid and a base creates an exchange of molecules that releases carbon dioxide. This bubbles through whatever is clogging the drain, attempting to loosen it and break it up into smaller material. It’s similar to the classic elementary school volcano science project that resulted in fizzy white “lava” that cascaded down the paper mache volcano. 

That chemical reaction isn’t the only thing that works to fight drain clogs. You need one more ingredient besides baking soda and vinegar. That’s right, folks, this recipe requires boiling water. It’s a very rare substance, so we hope you can get your hands on it. All jokes aside, the boiling water creates added pressure to wash away any debris or goop out of the pipes. 

How To Prime The Drain

Before you pour the DIY drain cleaner down the clogged drain, you have to remove as much standing water as you can. If the sink or tub is full of backed-up water, use a bucket to scoop out as much as possible. A little water is fine, but the baking soda and vinegar solution needs to be able to directly enter the drain opening. Also, be sure to remove the sink pop-up stopper if you have one in your sink or tub. This gives you better access to the drain. 

DIY Drain Cleaner

Ingredients:

• 1 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1/2 cup vinegar

Instructions:

• After clearing out the tub or sink with excess water (if that’s the case), pour the boiling water down the drain. Be careful while you pour the boiling water because you don’t want it to splatter. 
• Pour the baking soda into the drain followed by the vinegar. 
• Cover the drain with a stopper because the baking soda and vinegar will fizz and bubble up. 
• When you cover the drain, you force the reaction downwards to target the clog. 
• Wait 10 minutes and then pour another cup of boiling water down the drain to wash away the built-up and grime. 
• Finally, flush the drain with hot water from the tap to remove remaining debris. 
• This may take a few tries, but it’s a very simple method that can be effective and safe. 

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Are your windows or mirrors dirty? It’s time to to wipe them clean and make them glimmer in the sunlight. You don’t even need to reach for that chemical glass cleaner that has the potential to leave streaks behind. Cleaning glass is easier than ever with the DIY all-natural glass cleaner in this article. Not only is it eco-friendly, but it’s effective and you won’t leave streaks behind. 

Why Choose A Natural Glass Cleaner?

There are many advantages to cleaning glass surfaces with a natural spray. Chemical formulas in most commercial window cleaning sprays pose various health hazards. It’s possible to experience respiratory struggles, skin rashes, watery eyes, or more chronic, long-term symptoms. Inhaling the chemicals in these sprays can damage the eyes, nose, throat, lungs, and mucus membranes in airways. Plus, if you have children in the home, you don’t want them to lick a window after cleaning it with a chemical spray. It happens, people…

Using a natural glass cleaner spray can help you clean windows worry-free. You won’t have to worry about harming the respiratory system when you use simple ingredients like vinegar, water, and essential oils. And the best part is that glass surfaces will look sparkly and streak-free after using a natural spray. 

Why Choose Vinegar?

Vinegar is as great on your salad as it is on your windows. Distilled white vinegar is an excellent cleaning agent. Since the smell is off-putting to some people, it’s important to mask the aroma by diluting it with water and adding a powerful essential oil. It’s very affordable and the acidic nature offers antibacterial properties that enhance cleaning efforts. It’s also non-toxic and completely safe for skin, pets, children, and all other living things. 

Use Distilled Water

You can dilute distilled white vinegar in any water, but it’s best to dilute it in distilled water. Believe it or not, cleaning with distilled water makes a big difference, especially when it comes to cleaning glass. Hard water, such as tap water, has a higher concentration of dissolved minerals, including magnesium and calcium. These minerals can leave streaky marks or excess residue on glass surfaces after you finish wiping them.

Note: Do not spray the following glass cleaners directly on glass surfaces. Spray on a cloth first to avoid drips coming in contact with a frame or silver backing. This can cause corrosion or potential discoloration. 

DIY Glass Cleaner Spray

Ingredients:

• 2 cups distilled water
• 2 tbsp distilled white vinegar
• 10 drops lemon essential oil

Instructions:

• Add all of the ingredients to a spray bottle and shake well to combine. 
• Use as need to clean windows and mirrors.

How To Use:

• For streak free windows, it’s best to spray a small amount of this spray on a microfiber or lint-free cloth. 
• Wipe the surface with cloth to remove dust, smudges, or debris. 
• Spray the cloth again and give the glass surface another wipe down. Repeat this process on all other glass surfaces that you wish to clean. 

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Now more than ever, over-sanitation is too common in the household. We house an assortment of cleaning products beneath the sink, in either the kitchen or bathroom. People bleach the counters or high-touch surfaces, and they wipe the floors until they are shiny and spotless. The important thing to remember is that people do these things to keep themselves safe. As it turns out, they may do more harm than good for the body.

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), upwards of 2,000 cleaning supplies on the American market contain chemicals that can lead to serious health problems. Fumes from some products lead to respiratory distress, while carcinogenic compounds in others increase cancer risk. Parents who over-sanitize the house can cause their children to grow up to develop serious respiratory problems like asthma. One study even found that inhaling chemicals from cleaning products has a similar damaging effect that cigarettes have on the lungs. Pregnant women who clean with chemical products may even increase the risk of birth defects. 

Are People Not Informed About These Risks?

Despite all of this information, cleaning products still make it onto U.S. shelves. Manufactures are not required to list all the ingredients in these cleaning products. Additionally, don’t assume that “green” cleaning products are 100% safe for you. They can still contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), fragrances, and other irritants. That’s why it’s always best to do your research on the safest cleaning products for your health. The Environmental Protection Agency has a list of cleaning products that are safer and healthier for cleaning needs. 

Home Cleaning Products Study

The University of Bergen in Norway conducted a 20-year study on home cleaning products. The study monitored 6,230 participants between the ages of 20 and 44. Each participant had up to three lung tests during the duration of the study. The study divided the participants into three categories: people who cleaned at least once a week, people who didn’t clean, and people who cleaned as a profession. The results indicated that women who cleaned once a week experienced reduced lung function. They also experienced an increase in asthma. Women who cleaned as a profession saw a decline in lung function that mimicked the effects of smoking half a pack of cigarettes per day. Men in the study had similar effects. 

While the takeaway from that study seems like cleaning products only affect lung function, this is not the case. They contain chemicals that can disrupt the endocrine system, which contains the glands that regulate hormones. Disrupting this system can lead to hormonal imbalance that can affect the body’s natural messaging system. Additionally, the chemicals can block hormone function, or mimic hormone function. Either way, they disrupt hormones and cause distress, confusion, or even nutritional deficiencies in the body. Some other problems that household cleaners cause include:

• Birth defects
• Hypothyroidism
• Infertility
• Skin disorders
• Allergies
• Respiratory issues
• Diabetes
• Inflammation
• Nerve damage
• Increased cancer risk
• Eye irritation

Can You Avoid These Problems?

Chemical cleaning products are convenient. People know them because they regularly see them in the stores and in commercials. The best thing you can do to keep yourself protected is to read the labels and reports on the products before purchasing them. Opt for products that do not contain fragrances, flammable ingredients, irritants, or VOCs. Additionally, don’t buy air fresheners. 

A safe cleaning alternative to major household cleaning products is soap and warm water. This is great for cleaning the home. Lastly, baking soda is excellent for scrubbing away grime. You can also use distilled white vinegar and water to clean glass surfaces. When you clean, be it with natural or chemical cleaning products, make sure to keep the home well ventilated. Open the windows so that fresh air can come in and the chemicals can go out.

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People love their pillows and mattresses, but they are probably the least clean items in the home. Chances are that people don’t even think about washing pillows or cleaning mattresses. Considering that people spend an average of six to eight hours on their mattresses every night, they deserve regular cleaning, right? That’s the hope, but it’s unfortunately not a reality.

Sheets and mattress protectors can keep a mattress clean to a certain degree, but dead skin cells, hair, sweat, body oils, and dust eventually make their way onto it. All of that sounds gross, doesn’t it? Sorry, but we are not the perfect creatures we think we are, and we need to put in a little effort to keep the house, and the things in them, clean. One of the ways to prevent the mattress from becoming a bacterial haven, and to keep it clean and odor-free, is to use a mattress spray.

What Are Dust Mites?

These microscopic, insect-like pests love dust, in case the name didn’t give that away. They feed on pet dander, dead skin cells, and all of the other tiny particles that comprise dust. Dust mites can actually cause severe allergic reactions, and they can even worsen respiratory symptoms like asthma. They love fabrics or upholstered items, including carpets, curtains, furniture, bedding, stuffed animals, and mattresses. The scary thing is that roughly 10,000 dust mites can exist in one square meter in your average home. 

In order to prevent them from accumulating in your home, it’s wise to keep all of your fabric or upholstered items clean and fresh. Since most people neglect their mattresses, we’re putting a bigger emphasis on that for this article. 

How To Deter Dust Mites From Mattresses:

Before you even decide to clean your mattress, remove all of the bedding and throw it in the wash. When the weather permits, open the windows and allow fresh air into your home. Dust and dust mites easily accumulate in a house with stagnant air that doesn’t circulate. While the sheets are in the wash, it’s time to clean the mattress, which means you bust out the DIY mattress spray recipe below. Spray it onto the mattress and it will help absorb the odors, deter dust mites, and keep the mattress smelling fresh. Allow your mattress at least two hours to fully absorb the spray. After this time, vacuum the top of the mattress and then put your sheets back on. 

The Ingredients

Lavender Essential Oil

A calming essential oil that exhibits powerful antibacterial properties. You may also find that the scent helps promote relaxation, contributing to sounder, more peaceful slumber. 

Distilled White Vinegar

This mild disinfectant helps to deodorize fabrics and works to clean surfaces. 

Peppermint Essential Oil

The minty aroma is not only refreshing, but it also works to repel insects. This is excellent news if you have dust mites!

Eucalyptus Essential Oil

This essential oil is beneficial for the respiratory system, working to improve airways for optimal breathing. It also has air-purifying properties, and it may help to cleanse surfaces. 

DIY Mattress Spray

Ingredients:

• 1 cup water (boiled and then cooled)
• 1 cup distilled white vinegar
• 8 drops eucalyptus essential oil
• 8 drops lavender essential oil
• 8 drops peppermint essential oil
• 500ml spray bottle

Instructions:

• Pour the water and vinegar into the spray bottle and then add the essential oils.
• Screw the top on the bottle and shake it vigorously to combine. 
• Spray this mixture directly on the mattress and let it remain there for a couple hours. Remember to shake the bottle before each use. 

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